Friday’s matchup featured a highly anticipated battle between top pitching prospects Baysox starter RHP Parker Bridwell and Senators starter RHP Lucas Giolito. Giolito enters 2016 as the No.1 ranked prospect in the Nationals organization and Bridwell is a member of the Orioles 40-man roster. The game did not disappoint as the contest was back and forth and featured five lead changes, but Bowie was able to double-up Harrisburg and take the 6-3 victory.

The Baysox got on the board in the bottom of the third inning against Giolito. SS Adrian Marin hit a lead-off single to left field and OF Glynn Davis followed up with a walk. Marin, alertly, stole third base and scored when OF Julio Borbon hit an infield single to give Bowie the 1-0 lead.

Harrisburg rallied to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning against Bridwell. OF Brenden Webb drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third base on OF Zach Collier‘s double down the left field line. OF Cutter Dykstra walked to load the bases and Webb then scored when Adrian Sanchez grounded into a double play. Bridwell then walked his third batter of the inning, OF Rafael Bautista, and threw a wild pitch on ball four that allowed Collier to score and give the Senators a 2-1 lead.

Bowie tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Borbon hit a lead-off single, stole second base and scored on a Mike Yastrzemski single to center field to make the score 2-2. Harrisburg reliever and former Baysox RHP Andrew Robinson replaced Giolito on the mound to finish the inning.

The Senators were relentless and took the lead right back in the top half of the next inning. 1B Neftali Soto drew a one-out walk and scored on C Spencer Keiboom’s double down the left field line to make the score 3-2.

The Baysox climbed back and took the lead again in the bottom of the sixth inning against Harrisburg reliever RHP Dakota Bacus. A walk and a pair of singles loaded the bases with no outs, but no runs scored until a two-out Borbon single plated two to give Bowie a 4-3 advantage.

Bowie added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Mancini was hit-by-a-pitch and he came around to score on a Quincy Latimore double off the wall to left-center field. Two more walks loaded the bases and Tucker Nathans then brought home a run with a ground out to first base to make the score 6-3.

Baysox reliever LHP Donnie Hart replaced Bridwell in the sixth inning and recorded two total outs while allowing one hit. Hart was relieved by LHP Ashur Tolliver who threw two innings, allowed two hits and struck out two batters. Closer RHP Jason Stoffel made his second appearance in as many nights and recorded his fourth save of the year in a two-out, one strikeout performance.

LHP Chris Lee (2-0, 3.65) takes the mound for Bowie Saturday as the team plays the third game of a four-game series against the Harrisburg Senators. He will be opposed by top Nationals RHP Austen Williams (0-2, 10.57).

The Baysox are home through Wednesday, April 27 for a seven-game homestand against the Harrisburg Senators and Richmond Flying Squirrels. Promotional highlights include fireworks following the game Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. and PAW Patrol Day Sunday, April 24 at 2:05 p.m

The 2016 Bowie Baysox season is presented by Money One Federal Credit Union. The Baysox 2016 season is underway. Don’t miss a minute of the action as the Baysox defend their 2015 Eastern League Championship. Single game tickets are now on sale at www.baysox.com.

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